Musing On Emotions

Emotions are things that give us a great propensity to create. They seem to drive us and reenforce the almost already set behavior. It takes a strong individual that can line their heart and mind, melding the two into a tool that can decern many different aspects of this life.
Without the tandem of our heart and mind it is like seeing without color, thinking without understanding and loving without warmth.
When a wave of emotion washes over you take a moment to accept the insight to humanity that it has to offer you, feel it's roots run deep though you and enjoy the awakening of your soul that it can bring.

Posted with LifeCast

Muse on Decisions

Decisions are like the pond at scout camp. It has just filled due to a melted glacer and you are standing at the edge of the dock on a warm sunny afternoon, wearing a swimsuit and preparing yourself to make that first leap and complete the swim test.
You are completely unaware of how truly cold it is and you have just returned from lake Powell the week before making it very easy for your mind to consider this pond to be the bathtub temperature water you had just spent enjoying the week prior.
You jump. It was a movement done without thinking and now it is to late. The water hits you and you whince from the cold. There is a moment of silence. It crushes your lungs. You take a breath and begin to do the most logical thing, remove yourself from this water. You turn for the dock and grab the side. The camp leader leans down and says, "You're already in, just swim the test and get it over with." You once again move without thinking and swim now knowing that this is your only way out.
Laying on the dock once again feeling the warm sun that now can't seem to heat you fast enough. The others around you approach questioning the true temperature of the swim.
You respond, "Hell yea that was cold."

Musing on the French Laundry

This is a quotation taken from one of my favorite books, "The French Laundry Cookbook." Thomas Keller describes my feelings about capturing the beauty of life when he is talking about food and satisfying a appetite.

The Law of Diminishing Returns
By Thomas Keller.

Most chefs try to satisfy a customer's hunger in a short time with one or two dishes. They begin with something great. The initial bite is fabulous. The second bite is great. But by the third bite - with many more to come - the flavors begin to deaden, and the diner loses interest. It's like getting into a hot bath or jumping into a cold pool. At first, the temperature is shocking, but after a few minutes, you get so used to it that you don't even notice it. Your mouth reacts the same way to flavors and sensations.
Many chefs try to counter the deadening effect by putting a lot of different flavors on the plate to keep interest alive. But then the diner cant focus on anything because it's confusing.
What I want is that initial shock, that jolt, that surprise to be the only thing you experience. So I serve five to ten small courses, each meant to satisfy your appetite and pique your curiosity. I want you to say, "I wish I had just one more bite of that." And then the next plate comes and the same thing happens, but it's a different experience, a whole new flavor and feel.
The way to keep the experience fresh is not by adding more flavors, but rather by focusing more on specific flavors, either by making them more intense than the foods from which they come, or by varying the preparation technique.

Driving Muse

If I was in the position that I never had to worry about money I would do as follows...

1. Chauffeur. I would never drive myself around anywhere, and when you never have to worry about money, you are never late for any appointment. I hate driving.

2. Personal Assistant. I would love to have someone around to help me with my daily affairs. This person would be in charge of packing my luggage for trips as well as arranging the accommodations, etc. It would also be nice to have someone available to spend time with when I needed a cool friend. While I know it is shallow to be paying someone to be a friend, it is nice to know that they are there.

3. Travel. Exploring the world is a big durr. Who wouldn't see the world?

4. Philanthropy. Having an unexhaustible income would allow me to do the ultimate good to mankind. I have always loved charity and philanthropy organizations. I would be able to employ and help those less fortunate. I think this would be my life endeavor. I even what it to be my life endeavor now.

I once watched a documentary called, "Born Rich." It was made by one of the Johnson and Johnson heirs. He wanted to show the challenges, lifestyle and over all callowness that can result. Kind of a Micheal Moore film.

There is one scene where he is talking to his father asking him what his career should be. His father replies with and answer of the sky being the limit. He can do anything he chooses. He can go to the best schools, etc. The son asks further into what he should choose to "do" as a career. He father repels with ideas such as, collecting cars, painting, collecting artifacts, etc. The son laughs and comments that those are really careers.

The point of that story is that if you are in a position with expendable income, it is your responsibility to use that wealth to create as much good and comfort for mankind as you can. I am not talking about free hand outs, but helping others to progress.

5. Make sure my family truly understands the value of money. I am really grateful that my parents never let on the we had some money. I grew up middle class, and one summer I worked three jobs to buy a car. I had found the car I wanted a nice little BMW. Looking back it was a piece of crap on wheels, but as a teenager it was awesome.

When my father and I went to go look at the car, I was very doubtful of me having it. Then my dad did something surprising. He wrote a check for the car and then had me owe him money. I remember as he wrote the check thinking to myself, "We don't have that kind of money laying around to just write a check for a car," then I realized, "or maybe we do."

Children should always know that money has a direct value to your time. Anytime I asked for money from my father he always said, "This is time that I spent at work, here you go." $20 is so much more than just $20.

Well, there you have it. That is what I would do with a bunch of money. Now if I could just find a bunch of money.

Late Night Musings

I am sitting here listening to some piano etudes and musing about all the great things I have done in the last weekend. It has been excellent even though it was rainy and chilly.

Now all who know me, know that I am a tea fanatic. I love tea. There is nothing better than having a warm cup of tea on a cold day, or you can have it iced if it is unreasonable hot. There are loads of antioxidants that help to keep you healthy and well, and no sugar, preservatives, or fat. (that is to say as long as you drink it strait, without creme or sugar. My favorite is soy milk.)

There are specific techniques to making the perfect pot of tea.

1: You buy premium tea.
Your tea hast to be made from the best herbs and dried properly. You can grow and dry your own herbs, which I have done, and it's extremely hard to mix just the right herbs to make good flavors. My favorite producers are Mighty Leaf (this my ultimate favorite company), and yogi tea ( I like the inspirational thoughts that are attached to the bag, and I end up saving them all in cup).

2: You don't want to heat the water to a boil.
You only want the water to steam. Boiling water, while nice and hot will cause the tea to bruise, and that is never good. For a good taste, you steam the water to the point of boiling and then you let the tea steep longer.

3: Let the tea steep longer.
This is the real trick. Everyone is in such a hurry, but the longer you let the tea steep the deeper the flavor. It is normally recommended to let the tea steep for three to five minutes. I normally let it steep for 10 and then drink it slowly through the day. The last cup at the end of the day is so dark and wonderful.
Be warned- if you are using the tea leaf (Camellia sinensis), i.e. green tea, white tea, or black tea; the longer you let the tea steep the more bitter it will be. The actual tea leaf goes bitter the longer it soaks. I personally like bitter flavors so it's not a problem, but not everyone enjoys the flavor change.
A long steep only changes the flavor, it doesn't release any more antioxidants. Those are there from the very beginning. So a long steep is just for a preferred flavor.

4: Have a nice tea pot and cup.
This makes for a pleasant experience and presentation. Drinking tea is about becoming content and happy with your life. Drinking out of your favorite cup makes a difference, surrounding yourself with things you love helps you to love life more.

There you have it. That is four easy steps to enjoying tea. I finally got my perfect pot on Saturday while antique shopping with Carmel and Brook. It is the brown tea pot in the picture. So anyone is welcome to call me for a pot of tea and a wonderful experience with a friend.